Work Your Magic with us!  

 

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

 

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

 

Your Role:

The Market Access and Pricing (MAP) and Government Affairs and Policy (GAP) Manager  for South Africa (SA) is a high impact position and a member of the Country Leadership Team and the Regional Government Affairs and Policy and Market Access and Pricing Leadership Team. The incumbent is responsible for all legislative, policy, political, and advocacy strategy and execution for the Healthcare business in SA as well as managing key stakeholders (non HCPs) for the business. Within this remit  is the development and execution of strategies and concepts to improve access to and ensure reimbursement of the company‘s product portfolio

 

Key Accountabilities:

Grow the core and deliver launches

      Governmental Affairs:

Anticipates and predicts changes in the external legislative, regulatory, policy and political environments in SA in the short, mid and long term while identifying risk and opportunities for the companyCreates specific opportunities for the Healthcare business and operations in the legislative, regulatory, policy, and political environment in SAAnalyzes the potential impacts of government action, both offensively and defensively, to the business (operational and strategic)Recommends company positioning, priorities, internal and external strategy, and tactics to the Country Leadership Team, and the Region Government Affairs and Policy Leadership Team as it relates to legislation, regulation, policy and politicsExecutes company strategy and influences the legislation, regulation, policy and politics in support of the company’s Healthcare purpose and mission to minimize risk and maximize opportunityRepresents the company with external stakeholders, including senior government officials Serves as liaison to all relevant trade associations, ensuring coordination and alignment on policy and advocacy matters, and Board-level staffing  Develops and builds a proactive, credible Merck Healthcare political profile in SA

Market Access:

Contributes to the development of the SA commercial strategy, leading development and implementation of SA MAP strategyDevelops and executes strategies that increase access to the company’s Healthcare products across the SA regionEnsures the optimal reimbursement/adoption of existing and new drugs by private and public payers/health insurance schemes in all relevant marketsDevelops, implements and maintains the optimal pricing strategies for the company’s Healthcare portfolio across SAServe as the country contact person for all MAP matters for Global and Regional MAPAchieves and maintains pricing, reimbursement, and other access conditions in the countries on target and strategyPrepares the pricing and reimbursement negotiation strategy, fall back options and underlying documentation, seeking internal approvals in line with company processesLeads pricing negotiations with public and institutional payers in the country, in collaboration with Franchise Leads, and General ManagerAssures compliance with company’s Healthcare pricing Governance in SAManages list and net prices in SA according to the Pricing Governance rules and in alignment with the franchises and the General ManagerRemains up to date about forthcoming tenders, and intends to shape the tender requirementsWorks in close collaboration with all functions with specific focus on the Franchise Heads, and medical director

 

People and organizational development:

Leads by example and enables flawless cross-functional collaborationEmbeds a High Impact culture within the organisationMember of the SA leadership team and accountable for the county results, long term strategy, culture and employee engagementImprove operationsAccountable to ensure that all activities comply with all (local) laws and regulations and internal guidelines / SOPsEnsures MAP/GAP SOPs are clear and followed by all team members and identifies and proposes solutions when improvements are required

 

Education & Experience:

Higher Education Degree in health economics & Pharmacoeconomics / Postgraduate degree is required15+ years’ experience in pharmaceutical industry10+ years in market access and governmental affairsSouth Africa experience and track record relevant to this role, this is non-negotiableProven track record of reimbursement in private and in public sectorActive experience within industry groups or lobbying groups

 

This role is an employment equity position and the company prioritizes such applications.  As per the Company’s Employment Equity Plan, the Company encourages African Males, Coloured Males, Indian Males, and Disabled persons to apply.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and believe that it drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!
 
Apply now and become a part of our diverse team!